When do ospreys leave Wyoming?

Most Ospreys have left Wyoming by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.

When is the best time to see ospreys in Wyoming?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 9.7% of Wyoming checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Wyoming?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Wyoming in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of August (9.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals early April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 9.7% of Wyoming checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marrare
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Ospreys in Wyoming, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Apr 1-7	Apr 8-14	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	9.7%

Osprey

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Wyoming that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Wyoming

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Lincoln CountyBest mid August · 88 checklists that week, 3,169 in all32%
Johnson CountyBest mid August · 105 checklists that week, 5,977 in all24%
Platte CountyBest the second week of May · 62 checklists that week, 1,645 in all19%
Sweetwater CountyBest late August · 141 checklists that week, 5,064 in all19%
Teton CountyBest early May · 673 checklists that week, 34,686 in all19%
Natrona CountyBest the second week of May · 176 checklists that week, 5,810 in all17%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Wyoming?: Ospreys reach Wyoming in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of August (9.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Wyoming?: Most Ospreys have left Wyoming by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Wyoming?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 9.7% of Wyoming checklists.